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Big Mekhi Becton says he's 'most dominant' option in deep draft for left tackles

INDIANAPOLIS -- Mekhi Becton looks big, plays big and, on Wednesday, talked a big game about his status in a loaded class of offensive tackles.

"I feel like I'm the most dominant tackle in the draft," Becton said during his media session at the NFL Combine. "You wouldn't go wrong taking me."

Becton, a three-year starter at Louisville, stands at 6-foot-7 and weighed as much as 370 pounds during his college career. He checked in this week at 355 pounds and said he could get even lighter if the team that drafts him wants him to do so.

The Browns, of course, are among the possibilities, and Becton has been regularly pegged to Cleveland at No. 10 in the countless mock drafts that populate the Internet.

Becton said he met with the team in a formal interview earlier this week that focused heavily on technique. The Highland Springs, Virginia, native said the Browns showed him some of his best plays and some of his worst during a three-year career that saw him get snaps at both left and right tackle.

Becton's had to answer a lot of questions about his performance as a sophomore, when he struggled and appeared to lack passion. "Just bad film," Becton said.

"My footwork can get out of place sometimes, my hand placement as well. I feel like those are the two most things I need to work on," Becton said. "I have to prove to them I love to finish. The tape shows it but I have to tell them I have the passion and love to finish."

Becton is easily the biggest among the top-ranked tackles in this year's draft class. Some projections have as many as five coming off the board in the top 15.

Here's why Becton is a constant in that group, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.

"Enormous frame complemented by surprisingly nimble feet and functional athleticism to handle either tackle spot. Becton's combination of movement and force should allow him to fit easily into all running schemes, but he needs to play with better patience in order to control and redirect all that mass into centered blocks in both run and pass. His technique and set-up are better than expected in pass pro, while his size and length allow him to recover and redirect both inside and outside rushes. With all really big prospects, weight and quickness will be concerns, but Becton's areas of concern are correctable or manageable if he's disciplined enough to prioritize them. He has the potential to be a good starter on either side, but the weight creates an obvious low-floor scenario."

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday he values "movement skills" in his tackles. And even though Becton is one of the biggest offensive linemen in Indianapolis this week, he certainly has those.

Becton said losing more weight won't be hard at all. It's been a constant question he's had to answer because there simply aren't many 370-pound tackles in the NFL, let alone 350.

On the flip side, that's what makes Becton such a high-ceiling prospect. If he can move the way he does at that high of a weight, just imagine what he can do when he trims down even more.

"They don't expect a person like me to move that well," Becton said. "I feel like I surprise a lot of people."

Check out photos of players interviewing at the 2020 NFL Combine

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